FRIENDS of a man stabbed on an Abingdon tow path yesterday spoke of their loss as the woman charged with his murder appeared in court.

Thames Valley Police yesterday identified the victim as 33-year-old Robert Dobinson, locally known as Robert “Raggy” Smith.

Natasha Elderfield, 40, appeared yesterday afternoon at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, charged with one count of murder.

Blonde and dressed in a baggy grey jumper, she spoke only to confirm her name and address. Elderfield, of no fixed abode, is due to appear again in Oxford Crown Court today at 10.30am.

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She is alleged to have stabbed Mr Dobinson on Sunday night on the Thames Path on the River Thames, about 100-metres west of Abingdon Bridge.

Mr Dobinson, of Faringdon, was taken to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, South Central Ambulance said.

Last night almost 500 people had joined the Facebook group set up in his memory.

Organisers thanked retired holidaymakers Valerie and John Barlow for staying with him after he was attacked.

The Cambridgeshire couple were moored in their narrowboat metres away from where the incident took place and waited at the scene with torches for the police to arrive.

The post said: “On behalf of Robert’s friends and family, may I just say a big thank you to Valerie and John Barlow for doing all that they could to help and [staying] with Robert until the police arrived.”

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